sleep apnea and DOT rules

[ruscottm]

Hi just a question I drive a bus in new jersey. And I am just wondering if any other people in this forum have a CDL liscense and are having problems with there doctors saying that they need a complance report from there machine.
Any help with this problem would be great.

What also would be great is if anybody here knows any of the DOT rules with respect to having sleep apnea.
Thank you,
Scott

[zonk]

I've to submit a form signed by the doctor to prove compliance with CPAP otherwise driving license would be cancelled
In Australia its mandatory in some states to report any disability including sleep apnea to traffic dept

Recently this story reported in the paper:
http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/scores-of-long...2dk0f.html

[PaulaO2]

There's several truckers who drop in here every once in a while.

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security...Apnea.aspx

http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety-security...apnea.aspx

I could not find anything specific for bus drivers, just truckers. I am wondering if that is a state thing and not a national thing?

Wait, here's something:
http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/rules-regulatio...driver.htm

NJ health form
http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/pdf/About/RA-4.pdf
I didn't read the fine print at the end of it so not sure if it is of any use.

Good luck and keep us posted on what you find out, too. We can use it to help others in the future!

[jgjones1972]

I have a CDL and yes, must show compliance for DOT physical renewal.

This type of thing isn't very rare. About fifteen years ago I fell about 60 feet. Luckily, I landed on my face...anyway, I suffered a "sub-arachnoid brain hemorrhage" (among a few other injuries) as a result. I couldn't get a DOT card for 5 years, after that I had to have tons of tests in order to get one.

The long and the short of it is: Be compliant with the therapy and show the compliance to the doc. I hate to sound blunt; but, if you have OSA and aren't being compliant, you really shouldn't be driving a bus. If you are being compliant then great! I know it's a pain to have to prove it, but it is what it is.

[ruscottm]

I use machine every night and company doctor knew this. I did not like the idea that he put me out of work till he got the report. Felt he should have given me a 30 day card till he got report from doctor.
Then he could have given me my 2 year card.

[PaulaO2]

Could be CYA syndrome (Cover Your Arse).

Could just be he's an idiot. Good luck.

[Tiny]

I hope your ready ,

It took Nearly 5 months to get this figured out and 3 weeks out of work ..... 2 , 30 days med cards .

Here's the long version http://www.apneaboard.com/forums/Thread-...5#pid31865 .

We who have CDL's are going to have to think ahead some , In my case I will have to drive 50 or so miles to get the SD card read that the Cpap machine has in the back .

You probably have found out by now that you have to be at 70% compliance . That has to be during a 30 day period . Hence my 3 weeks off .
.

Also Cpap is the only treatment for apnea the D.O.T. will accept . ( no way to track use of oral devices ) .

If you have apnea on your medical history , The 2 year med card is gone . Your only going to get one year at a time .

From now on I will have to go to the DME (Cpap machine supplier ) and have the card downloaded and printed out so the DOT doc can see compliance .

Have also been told that they can order a sleep test every year if you give them reason to believe the compliance report is altered or a phony .

Something else to consider , Medical Privacy does not apply to DOT rules . In the DOT rules it states that DOT rules supersede the HIPPA act . I found out when the DOT doc called the lead safety geek at work and told him everything going on .

Are DOT drivers being singled out ? Yes . Will this happen to the general public ? Not for a very long time . The public out cry would scare anyone who is elected .

My biggest worry is , What happens if my company shuts down ? Cpap is on my record . Will a potential employer bypass me because of it ?

With all the new rules coming out this may be a small bump in the road on a very rough ride .

[Tiny]

My daily driver

   

[PaulaO2]

You're one of those guys we like to see on the highway traveling. We call them the WTF trucks. It's fun trying to figure out what you're hauling!

I smarted off to a DMV worker a while back (he asked a personal question and I gave him the official answer using big words) and he put me on the Medical Restrictions list. Every two years, I have to sweet talk my docs into filling out a huge form. So I kinda sorta almost but not exactly understand what you guys and gals are going through.

I wish you both luck!

[archangle]

Are DOT drivers being singled out ? Yes . Will this happen to the general public ? Not for a very long time . The public out cry would scare anyone who is elected .

You have too much faith in the politicians and the the sheeple who can vote.

And not enough fear of the creeping nanny state and big brother/big business state.

I believe this happens to regular drivers in Australia as well. i.e. not commercial drivers, and your doctor will rat you out. It even happens to regular drivers in some states here in the US as well. Someone ticked off their doctor because they weren't going back and paying the doctor for regular and unnecessary return visits and the doctor got the state to take his drivers license away.